1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open: Debbie Massey wins at Northumberland Golf Club

Debbie Massey won the 1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open at Northumberland Golf Club, Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth Park), England with 295 (−1), by 4 strokes over Belle Robertson.

Updated October 23, 2026

Every year is on the AIG Women's Open winners list.

Dates: 30 July 1981 to 1 August 1981
Course: Northumberland Golf Club, Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth Park), England
Edition: 6th edition
Counted as a major: no (the event became a major later, or was one only in other years)
Format: stroke play, 4 rounds
Par: 74
Purse: £19,000 · winner's share £5,600
Champion: Debbie Massey · United States · born Grosse Pointe, Michigan, United States
Champion's title: 2nd title at this event
Winning score: 81-72 = 295 (−1) · won by 4 strokes
Runner-up: Belle Robertson (299)
Low amateur: Belle Robertson (299)

Winner and runner-up

Pos.	Player	R3	R4	Total	To par
1	Debbie Massey	81	72	295	−1
2	Belle Robertson			299

What happened at the 1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open

Defending champion Debbie Massey shot 81 in the third round, changed her grip overnight, and closed with a two-under-par 72 to win by four.

Scottish amateur Belle Robertson finished runner-up to Massey for the second year running, taking the Smyth Salver with 299.

How this was built

Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's AIG Women's Open data. A value no source confirmed is left out; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the organizer's own record is used.

Data: womens-golf-majors_dataset_2026-10-20.json (GNN's women's majors research set, "master" row for this year, research dated October 20, 2026).

1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open: Debbie Massey wins at Northumberland Golf Club

Winner and runner-up

What happened at the 1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open

How this was built

Sources